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THE  BENSON  LIBRARY  OF  HYMNOLOGY 

Endowed  by  the  Reverend 

Louis  Fitzgerald  Benson,  d.d. 


LIBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 

*•    *       i      - 


PRINCETON,  NEW  JERSEY 


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* 


"he  made  the  great  whale  and  the  elephant. 


Jonbon : 

f  rintcb  by  (William  (Hofocs  anb  Sens, 

gtatttforb  divert. 


V* 


PREFACE. 


Among  the  number  of  books  composed  for  the  use  of 
children,  though  there  are  many,  and  some  on  a  very 
rational  plan,  which  unfold  the  system,  and  give  a 
summary  of  the  doctrines  of  religion,  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  find  one  calculated  to  assist  them  in  the  devotional 
part  of  it,  except  indeed  Dr.  Watts's  Hymns  for  Children. 
These  are  in  pretty  general  use  ;  and  the  author  is 
deservedly  honoured  for  the  condescension  of  his  Muse, 
which  was  very  able  to  take  a  loftier  flight.  But  it 
may  well  be  doubted  whether  poetry  ought  to  be  lowered 
to  the  capacities  of  children,  or  whether  they  should 
not  rather  be  kept  from  reading  verse  till  they  are  able 
to  relish  good  verse ;  for  the  very  essence  of  poetry  is 
an  elevation  in  thought  and  style  above  the  common 
standard ;  and  if  it  wants  this  character,  it  wants  all 
that  renders  it  valuable. 

The  author  of  these  Hymns  has  therefore  chosen 
to  give  them  in  prose.  They  are  intended  to  be  com- 
mitted to  memory,  and  recited.  And  it  will  probably 
be  found   that   the  measured  prose  in  which  such  pieces 

b 


PREFACE. 


are  generally  written,  is  nearly  as  agreeable  to  the  ear 
as  a  more  regular  rythmus.  Many  of  these  Hymns  are 
composed  in  alternate  parts,  which  will  give  them  some- 
thing of  the  spirit  of  social  worship. 

The  peculiar  design  of  this  publication  is  to  impress 
devotional  feelings  as  early  as  possible  on  the  infant 
mind  ;  fully  convinced,  as  the  Author  is,  that  they 
cannot  be  impressed  too  soon,  and  that  a  child,  to  feel 
the  full  force  of  the  idea  of  God,  ought  never  to 
remember  the  time  when  he  had  no  such  idea — to 
impress  them,  by  connecting  religion  with  a  variety  of 
sensible  objects,  with  all  that  he  sees,  all  he  hears, 
all  that  affects  his  young  mind  with  wonder  or  delight ; 
and  thus,  by  deep,  strong,  and  permanent  associations, 
to  lay  the  best  foundation  for  practical  devotion  in  future 
life.  For  he  who  has  early  been  accustomed  to  see  the 
Creator  in  the  visible  appearances  of  all  around  him, 
to  feel  His  continual  presence,  and  lean  upon  His  daily 
protection — though  his  religious  ideas  may  be  mixed 
with  many  improprieties,  which  his  correcter  reason  will 
refine  away — has  made  large  advances  towards  that 
habitual  piety,  without  which  religion  can  scarcely  regu- 
late the  conduct,  and  will  never  warm  the  heart. 

A.  L.  B. 


PREFACE   TO    THE    PRESENT   EDITION. 


In  offering  this  volume  to  the  public,  little  need  be 
said  in  addition  to  the  original  Preface,  in  which  the 
Authoress  fully  explains  the  character  and  intention  of 
the  work ;  an  effort  singularly  successful  in  raising  the 
youthful  mind  to  the  praise  of  God,  through  the  con- 
templation of  His  works. 

To  realise  this  conception  more  vividly  than  mere 
text  can  accomplish,  has  been  the  aim  and  intention 
throughout. 

The  varied  and  picturesque  descriptions  with  which 
the  continuous  thread  of  argument  is  strung,  render  the 
task  of  illustration  at  once  easy  and  suggestive. 

Few  works  could  be  found  which  challenge  the 
pencil  and  fancy  of  the  artist  in  a  greater  degree ;  and 
it  is  hoped  the  present  effort  may  be  deemed  worthy 
of  the  text. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  PRESENT  EDITION. 


The  blending  of  the  illustrations  with  the  type  will 
be  found  no  unimportant  feature ;  a  unity  being  thereby 
obtained,  which  is  alike  pleasing  and  less  fatiguing  both 
to  the  mind  and  eye,  a  matter  of  some  importance  with 
the  young. 

London,  November,  1863. 


LIST    OF     ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ENGRAVED     BY    JAMES    D.    COOPER. 


ARTIST 

Barnes 
Kennedy 

Barnes 

M.  WlMPEBIS 

Barnes 


subject. 
"  He  made  the  great  Whale  and  the  Elephant "     R, 

Flowers  and  Fruit         T. 

Heading  to  Hymn  I E. 

The  Pebbly  Brook        E 

11  I  will  praise  God  with  my  voice'' R. 

;' Let  Him  call  me"     ..      « ,, 

Spring  Flowers  and  Buds     ..       W.  S.  Coleman 

Primroses,  Cowslips,  and  Violets       „ 

Young  Goslings „ 

Hen  sitting „ 

Young  Lambs       

"  Butterflies  flutter  from  bush  to  bush"    .. 

Chesnut  Blossom  

"On  every  hill  we  will  sing  His  praise"    .. 

Lark  rising T. 

Shepherd  and  stray  Lamb E. 

Group  of  Sheep 

Mother  and  Sick  Child         

Passion-flower       

Honeysuckle  

The  Good  Shepherd     . .       . .       

The  Moss  Rose  (Beauty) W 

The  Lion  (Strength) E. 

The  Sun  (Glory)  E. 


Kennedy 
Barnes 


page 

Frontispiece 
Tith 


Barnes    7 

.  S.  Coleman 8 


9 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

•       ••       ••  15 

16 

,  S.  Coleman 17 

Barnes 18 

M.  WlMPEBIS 19 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SUBJECT.  ARTIST.  PAGE 

Group  of  Flowers         R.Barnes           20 

"The  glorious  Sun  is  set  in  the  west"       ..      ..     E.  M.  Wimperis 21 

Beehives  and  Woodbines R.  Barnes           22 

Children  asleep      „                 23 

Maternal  care        „                 24 

Sweetbriar,  &c T.  Kennedy         25 

Child  awakening R.  Barnes           26 

"The  fields  were  bright  with  summer"     ..      ..     E.  M.  Wimperis 28 

Rabbits  and  Field  Mice       T.  Kennedy        29 

"The  Poppy  and  harebell  grew  among  the  wheat"            „                 30 

In  the  Coppice      E.  M.  Wimperis 31 

Moonrise       „                 32 

Storm     .. „                  33 

Child  in  Storm      K.  Barnes           34 

Summer  shade       E.  M.  Wimperis 35 

Cattle  in  stream ,.     R.  Barnes           36 

Ivy  border      „                  ..       ..      ...  37 

Acacia T.  Kennedy         38 

Foot-ball       ..      ..     R.  Barnes           38 

Fruit  border „                  39 

Apple  bough          T.Kennedy        40 

Girls  at  work         R.  Barnes           41 

Child  listening  to  the  Lark          „                  42 

The  Labourer's  Cottage  Home          E.  M.  Wimperis 44 

The  Reaper R.  Barnes           45 

Running  to  meet  Father       „                  45 

The  Family  Gathering         „                  46 

The  Village E.  M.  Wimperis 47 

The  Negro R.  Barnes           48 

The  Laplander      „                  48 

The  Italian „                  49 

The  Arab       „                  49 

Negro  Woman  and  Sick  Child ,,                  50 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SUBJECT.  ARTIST.  PAGE 

Ivy  border      R.  Barnes           51 

The  Castaway       „                  52 

"Take  up  a  handful  of  sand"      „                  53 

The  Fir  and  Willow T.  Kennedy        54 

The  Thistle  and  Mallow      „                  55 

The  Hop  and  Oak        „                  56 

The  Daisy  and  Tulip „                  5  7 

The  Iris,  Reed,  and  Heath-flower      „                  58 

The  Water-lilies  and  Wall-flower „                  59 

The  Thorn  and  Field-flowers      ,,                  60 

The  Tropical  Forest „                  61 

The  Rose  and  Lily       „                  62 

The  Snowdrop,  Primrose  and  Carnation  ..       ..  ,,                  63 

Winter „                  64 

The  Breath  of  Spring „                  65 

The  Beech-trees  and  Brook         „                   66 

The  giant  Oak      E.  M.  Wimperis 68 

Oak  bough     ..      R.  Barnes           69 

The  Germ  of  the  Oak          „                  70 

Child  in  Cradle — Convolvulus  border       ....  „                  71 

Youth  at  Study „                  72 

Ivy  border      „                  73 

Twin  Oaks „                  74 

Release  from  the  Chrysalis T.Kennedy         75 

Child  and  Sapling         ..      ..      R.  Barnes           76 

Twilight         E.  M.  Wimperis 77 

"  Bending  her  bright  horns  like  a  silver  bow"  ..  „ 78 

The  Pole  Star,  and  Mariner's  Guide          ....  ,,                  79 

Jupiter T.Kennedy         80 

Orion's  Belt  and  Sirius         „                  80 

Saturn „                  81 

The  Milky  Way „                  81 

Moonlight      E.  M.  Wimperis 82 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SUBJECT.  ARTIST. 

Winter  Scene        E.  M.  Wimperis  . . 

"  Trees  lift  up  their  naked  boughs " T.Kennedy 

Holly  bough B.  Barnes 

Old  Age  and  Childhood      „ 

The  Cross      „ 

Scattered  Rose-leaves T.  Kennedy 

The  Fallen  Trunk        

Perishing  Insects „ 

The  stricken  Man         R.Barnes 

Group  of  Flowers         T.Kennedy 

Mountain  Sunrise  „ 

Chrysalis,    Butterfly,     Caterpillar,    and    Nas- 
turtium       „ 

Flowers  and  Insects      „ 

Rose  and  Brambles       R.  Barnes 

The  Rainbow        „ 

Hymning  Praise „ 

Turtle  Doves         „ 

The  Toad  and  Henbane      ..  „ 

Finis        


TAGE 

84 
85 
86 

87 


90 

91 
92 

93 
94 

95 
96 

97 
97 
98 

99 
99 

100 


•v<* 


HYMN  1. 


let  us  praise   God,  for  He  is  ex- 
ceeding great;    let    us    bless   God,   for 
He  is  very  good. 
He    made   all   things ;    the   sun   to   rule  the 
day,  the  moon  to  shine  by  night. 

He  made  the  great  whale,  and  the  elephant ; 
and  the  little  worm  that  crawleth  on  the 
ground. 


■*?& 


(     3     ) 


ay  *csMU 


praise 
with     my    voice ; 
praise  Him,    though    I    am  but 
a  little  child. 


~$& 


) 


ml 


A  few  years  ago,  and  I  was 
a  little  infant,  and    my  tongue        ^ 


rrv.i 


was  dumb  within  my  mouth  : 
And   1   did   not  know  ^  " 
the    great    name  //l 

of  God,  for  my 
reason  was  not 
come  unto  me.        »■ 

But  now  I 
can  speak,  and 
my  tongue  shall 
praise   Him : 


M 


- 


VXmmm 


(     4     ) 


I  can  think  of  all  His  kindness,  and  my 
heart  shall  love  Him. 

Let  Him  call  me,  and  I  will  come  unto 
Him  :  let  Him  command,  and  I  will  obey 
Him. 

When  I  am  older,  I  will  praise  Him  better ; 
and  I  will  never  forget  God,  so  long  as  my 
life  remaineth  in  me. 


(     5     ) 


Come,  let  us  go  forth  into 
the  fields,  let  us  see  how  the 
flowers  spring,  let  us  listen  to 
the  warbling  of  the  birds,  and 
sport    ourselves   upon    the    new 


winter  is  over  and  gone, 
come    out    upon    the 
crimson   blossoms   of 
and     the     nectarine 
ind   the   green  leaves 


The   hedges    are   bordered  with   tufts  of 
primroses,     and     yellow     cowslips, 
-^Jf  that  hang  down  their  heads ;   and 
n  VvT    the    Dme  violet  lies  hid 
<A^       beneath  the  shade. 


The  young  goslings  are  running  upon  the 
green,  they  are  just  hatched,  their  bodies  are 
covered  with  yellow  down  ;  the  old  ones  hiss 
with  anger  if  any  one  comes  near. 


•^  J>r 


7 


The  hen  sits  on  her  nest  of  straw,  she  watches 
patiently  the  full  time,  then  she  carefully  breaks 
the  shell,  and  the  young  chickens  come  out. 


The  lambs  just  dropped  are  in  the  field,  they 
totter  by  the  side  of  their  dams,  their  young  limbs 
can  hardly  support  their  weight.  If  you  fall,  little 
lambs,  you  will  not  be  hurt ;  there  is  spread  under 
you  a  carpet  of  soft  grass ;  it  is  spread  on  purpose 
to  receive  you. 


7  rift 


::Z 


The  butterflies  flutter 
from  bush  to  bush  and 
open  their  wings  to  the 
warm  sun. 


<^  j ', 


v>. 


-&« 


# :'  '  w 


T J  The  young  animals  of  every 
kind  are  sporting  about,  they 
feel  themselves  happy,  they  are 
glad  to  be  alive, — they  thank 
Him  that  hath  made  them  alive. 
They  may  thank  Him  in 
their  hearts,  but  we  can  thank 
Him  with  our  tongues ;  we  are 
better  than  they,  and  can  praise 
Him  better. 


^^ 


% 


SOT 


(     9     ) 


The    birds    can    warble    and    the    young    lambs 
can    bleat,    but     we    can    open     our     lips     in     His 

praise,    we    can    speak    of    all 
His  goodness. 

Therefore  we  will  thank 
Him  for  ourselves,  and  we  will 
thank  Him  for  those  that 
cannot  speak. 

Trees  that  blossom  and  little 
lambs  that  skip  about,  if  you 
could,  you  would  say  how 
good  He  is  ;  but  you  are  dumb, 
we  will  say  it  for  you. 

We  will  not  offer  you  in 
sacrifice,  but  we  will  offer 
sacrifice  for  you ;  on  every  hill  and  in  every  green 
field,  we  will  offer  the  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving, 
and  the  incense  of  praise. 


IO 


1 1 


Behold  the  shepherd  of 
the  flock,  he  taketh  care 
for  his  sheep,  he  leadeth 
them  among  clear  brooks,  he 
guideth  them  to  fresh  pas- 
ture :  if  the  young  lambs  are 
weary,  he  carrieth  them  in 
<x  his  arms  ;  if  they  wander, 
he  bringeth  them  back. 


12 


But  who  is  the  shepherd's  Shepherd  ?  who  taketh 
care  for  him  ?  who  guideth  him  in  the  path  he  should 
go  ?  and,  if  he  wander,  who  shall  bring  him  back  ?  God 
is  the  shepherd's  Shepherd.  He  is  the  Shepherd  over  all ; 
He  taketh  care  for  all ;  the  whole  earth  is  His  fold ;  we 
are  all  His  flock ;  and  every  herb,  and  every 
green  field,  is  the  pasture  ^  MmM 
which  He  hath   prepared 


f 


or  us 


(      i.3 


!ll!i||iiii'!il'ii!ili!i!llr 


The  mother  loveth  her  little 

child  ;  she  bringeth  it  up  on  her 

knees ;    she    nourisheth   its   body 

with    food  ;    she     feedeth     its 

mind  with  knowledge  ;   if  it  is 

fi  sick,  she  nurseth  it  with  tender 

li    love ;    she  watcheth  over  it 

9    when  asleep ;    she  forgetteth 

1 1    it   not   for   a   moment ;    she 

teacheth      it     how     to     be 

good  ;     she     rejoiceth    daily 

fc    h  in  its  growth. 


(     H     ) 


But  who  is  the  Parent  of  the 
mother  ?  who  nourisheth  her  with 
good  things,  and  watcheth  over 
her  with  tender  love,  and  remem- 
bereth  her  every  moment  ?  Whose 
arms  are  about  her  to  guard  her 
from  harm  ?  and  if  she  is  sick, 
who  shall  heal  her. 

God  is  the  Parent  of  the 
mother;  He  is  the  Parent  of  all, 
for  He  created  all.  All  the  men 
and  all  the  women,  who  are  alive 
in  the  wide  world,  are  His  chil- 
dren ;  He  loveth  all,  He  is  good 
to  all. 

The  king  governeth  his  peo- 
ple ;  he  hath  a  golden  crown 
upon  his  head,  and  the  royal 
sceptre  is  in  his  hand;  he  sitteth 
upon  a  throne,  and  sendeth  forth 
his     demands;     his     subjects     fear 


l5 


before  him :  if  they  do  well,  he 
protecteth  them  from  danger ;  and 
if  they  do  evil,  he  punisheth 
them. 

But  who  is  the  Sovereign  of 
the  king  ?  who  commandeth  him 
what  he  must  do  ?  whose  hand 
is  reached  out  to  protect  him 
from  danger  ?  and  if  he  doeth 
evil,  who  shall  punish  him  ? 

God  is  the  Sovereign  of  the 
king ;  His  crown  is  of  rays  of 
light,  and  His  throne  is  amongst 
the  stars.  He  is  King  of  kings, 
and  Lord  of  lords  :  if  He  bid- 
deth  us  live,  we  live;  and  if  He 
biddeth  us  die,  we  die  :  His  do- 
minion is  over  all  worlds,  and 
the  light  of  His  countenance  is 
upon  all  His  works. 


(     i6 


God  is  our  Shepherd,  therefore  we  will 
follow  Him  ;  God  is  our  Father,  therefore  we 
will  love  Him ;  God  is  our  King,  therefore 
we  will  obey   Him. 


'7     ) 


Come,  and  I  will  show  you  what 
is  beautiful.  It  is  a  rose  fully 
blown.  See  how  she  sits  upon 
her  mossy  stem,  like  the  queen 
of  all  the  flowers  !  her  leaves 
glow  like  fire :  the  air  is  filled 
with  her  sweet  odour ;  she  is  the 
delight  of  every  eye. 

She  is  beautiful,  but  there  is 
a  fairer  than  she.  He  that  made 
the  rose  is  more  beautiful  than 
the  rose  ;  He  is  all  lovely ;  He 
is  the  delight  of  every  heart. 


i8     ) 


I  will  show  you  what  is  strong.  The  lion  is  strong ; 
when  he  raiseth  up  himself  from  his  lair,  when  he 
shaketh  his  mane,  when  the  voice  of  his  roaring  is  heard, 
the  cattle  of  the  field  fly,  and  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
desert  hide  themselves,  for  he  is  very  terrible. 

The  lion  is  strong,  but  He  that  made  the  lion  is 
stronger  than  he :  His  anger  is  ter- 
rible :  He  could  make  us  die  in  a 
moment,  and  no  one  could  save  us 
1         out  of  His  hand.  „ ^/s 


I  will  show 


you 


YV 


hat 


is 


gl< 


The 


'■:r- 


lonous.  1  ne  sun  is  •  ■' .'■ 
glorious.  When  he  shineth  in  the 
clear  sky,  when  he  sitteth  on  the  bright 
throne  in  the  heavens,  and  looketh  abroad 
over  all  the  earth,  he  is  the  most  excellent 
and  glorious  creature  the  "eye  can  behold. 
The  sun  is  glorious,  but  He  that  made  the 
sun  is  more  glorious  than  he.  The  eye  beholdeth 
Him  not,  for  His  brightness  is  more  dazzling  than  we 
could  bear. 


20 


He  seeth  in  all  dark  places ;  by  night  as  well 
as  by  day;  and  the  light  of  His  countenance 
is  over  all  His  works. 

Who  is  this  great  Name,  and  what  is  He 
called,  that   my  lips  may  praise   Him  ? 

This  great  Name  is  God.  He  made  all 
things,  but  He  is  himself  more  excellent  than 
all  which  He  hath  made  :  they  are  beautiful, 
but  He  is  beauty ;  they  are  strong,  but  He 
is  strength  ;  they  are  perfect,  but  He  is  per- 
fection. 


21 


The    glorious    sun    is    set    in    the 
west  ;    the    night    dews    fall  ;     and    the 
|f  air,  which  was  sultry,  becomes  cool. 

The  flowers   fold   up   their   coloured 
pi  leaves ;  they  fold  themselves  up,   and   hang 
their  heads  on  the  slender  stalk. 

The  chickens  are  gathered  under  the 
wing  of  the  hen,  and  are  at  rest ;  the  hen  herself  is 
at  rest  also. 

The  little  birds  have  ceased  their  warbling,  they 
are  asleep  on  the  boughs,  each  one  has  his  head 
behind  his  wing. 


22 


f« 


flF 


There   is   no 
murmur    of    bees    around 
hive,  or  among  the  honeyed  wood- 
bines ;    they   have  done  their   work, 
and  lie  close  in  their  waxen  cells. 

The  sheep  rest  upon  their  soft  fleeces, 
and  their  loud  bleating  is  no  more  heard 
amongst  the  hills. 

There  is  no  sound  of  a  number  of  voices,  or 
of  children   at  play,  or  the  trampling  of  busy 
feet,  and  of  people  hurrying  to  and  fro. 

The  smith's  hammer  is  not  heard  upon  the 
anvil ;  nor  the  harsh  saw  of  the  carpenter. 
v        All   men   are   stretched   on    their   quiet 
3S,  beds ;  and  the  child  sleeps  upon  the  breast 
*  of  its  mother. 

Darkness    is   spread    over   the    skies, 
and     darkness     is     upon     the 
ground  ;    every   eye  is  shut 
and   every  hand 
is  still. 


1 


23     ) 


^^^  ,, 


Who    taketh    care    of    all     people 
when   they   are    sunk   in   sleep ;    when 
they  cannot   defend   themselves,  nor  see    if 
danger  approacheth  ? 

There  is  an  eye  that  never  sleepeth ; 
there  is  an  eye  that  seeth  in  dark  night 
as  well  as  in  the  bright  sunshine. 
When  there  is  no  light  of  the  sun,  nor  of  the 
moon  ;  when  there  is  no  lamp  in  the  house,  nor 
any  little  star  twinkling  through  the  thick  clouds ; 
that  eye  seeth  everywhere,  in  all  places,  and 
watcheth  continually  over  all  the  families  of 
the  earth. 

The  eye  that  sleepeth  not  is  God's ; 
His  hand  is  always  stretched  out 
over  us. 

He  made  sleep  to  refresh  us 
when  we  are  weary  :      He  made     j| 
night  that  we  might  sleep 
in  quiet. 


24 


As  the  mother  moveth  about  the  house  with  her 
finger  on  her  lips,  and  stilleth  every  little  noise  that 
her  infant  be  not  disturbed, — as  she  draweth  the 
curtains  around  its  bed,  and  shutteth  out  the  light 
from    its    tender   eyes,   so    God    draweth    the    curtains 

of  darkness    around    us;     so 
He   maketh    all    things   to 
be   hushed   and    still,    that 
His  large  family  may 
ii-MWii  sleep  in  peace. 


Labourers,   spent   with    toil,    and    young   children,    and 

every  little  humming  insect, 
sleep  quietly,  for  God  watcheth 
"  ^  over  you. 

You  may  sleep,  for  He 
never  sleeps ;  you  may  close 
your  eyes  in  safety,  for  His 
^  eye  is  always  open  to  pro- 
tect you. 
When  the  darkness  is  passed 
away,    and    the    beams    of    the 
morning     sun     strike      through 
your     eyelids,    begin     the     day 
!\      with     praising     God,     who 
hath     taken     care     of     you 
through   the   night. 

Flowers,  when   you  open 
j  again,    spread    your    leaves, 
and     smell     sweet     to     His 
praise. 
Birds,  when  you  awake,  war- 
ble   your    thanks    amongst    the 
green     boughs ;     sing    to    Him 
before  you  sing  to  your  mates. 


(        26 


Let  His  praise  be  in  our  hearts,  when  we 
lie  down ;  let  His  praise  be  on  our  lips,  when 
we   awake. 


AYHH  \flMm 


Child  of  reason,  whence  comest 
thou  ?  What  has  thine  eye  ob- 
served, and  whither  has  thy  foot 
been  wandering  ? 

I  have  been  wandering  along 
the  meadows  in  the  thick  grass ; 
the  cattle  were  feeding  around  me' 

or   reposing   in    the    cool    shade ; 
|"N  the     corn     sprung     up     in     thef 

furrows ; 


•-•&' 


-3^ 


3° 


the  poppy  and  the  harebell  grew  among 
the  wheat ;  the  fields  were  bright  with 
summer,   and   glowing  with   beauty. 

Didst    thou    see     nothing    more  ? 

Didst    thou    observe    nothing    besides  ? 

Return     again,     child     of    reason,     for 

there    are   greater   things  than  these. — 

God    was    among    the    fields  ;     and 

didst   thou   not  perceive  Him  ?     His 

beauty     was     upon     the     meadows  : 

His  smiles  en- 
......  livened  the 


-*m>- 


sunshine. 


»3K 


mmm 


[f 


31 


32 


Didst  thou  hear  nothing  but  the  murmur  of  the 
brook  ?  no  whispers  but  the  whispers  of  the  wind  ? 
Return  again,  child  of  reason,  for  there  are  greater 
things  than  these. —  God  was  amongst  the  trees; 
His   voice   sounded    in    the    murmur  of  the  water ; 


His     music     warbled     in     the     shade  ;      and     didst 
thou  not   attend  ? 

I  saw  the  moon  rising  behind  the  trees ;  it 
was  like  a  lamp  of  gold.  The  stars  one  after 
another  appeared   in   the  clear  firmament. 


33 


Presently  I  saw  black  clouds  arise,  and  roll  to- 
wards the  south;  the  lightning  streamed  in  thick 
flashes  over  the  sky;  the  thunder  growled  at  a 
distance;  it  came  nearer,  and  I  felt  afraid,  for  it 
was   loud   and   terrible. 


Did  thy  heart  feel  no  terror,  but  of  the  thun- 
derbolt ?  Was  there  nothing  bright  and  terrible 
but  the  lightning?  Return,  O  child  of  reason, 
for  there  are  greater  things  than  these. — God  was 
in    the  storm,   and   didst    thou   not   perceive    Him  ? 


34 


His    terrors    were    abroad,    and    did     not     thine 
heart  acknowledge  Him  ? 

God  is  in  every  place ;  He  speaks  in  every 
sound  we  hear ;  He  is  seen  in  all  that  our  eyes 
behold ;  nothing,  O  child  of  reason,  is  without 
God ; — let  God  therefore  be  in  all  thy  thoughts. 


35 


m. 


-  mmn  \m. 

Come,  let  us  go  into  the  thick 
shade,  for  it  is  the  noon  of  day,  and 
the  summer  sun  beats  hot  upon  our 
heads. 

The  shade  is  pleasant  and  cool  ;  the 
branches  meet  above  our  heads,  and  shut  out  the  sun 
as  with  a  green  curtain ;  the  grass  is  soft  to  our  feet, 
and   a   clear  brook  washes  the  roots  of  the  trees. 

The  sloping  bank  is  covered  with  flowers  ;  let  us 
lie  down  upon  it  ;  let  us  throw  our  limbs  on  the  fresh 
grass  and  sleep  ;  for  all  things  are  still,  and  we  are 
quite  alone. 


36 


The  cattle  can  lie  down  to  sleep  in  the  cool 
shade,  but  we  can  do  what  is  better ;  we  can  raise 
our  voices  to  heaven  ;  we  can  praise  the  great  God 
who  made  us.  , 

He    made     the    warm    sun 
and  the  cool  shade;    the  trees 
that   grow    upwards,    and    the 
brooks     that    run    murmuring  ( 
along.      All    the    things     that 
His  work. 


(     37 


Mb 


^3 


J 


4,         Can   we    raise    our    voices    up    to 

\       the  high  heaven  ?     Can  we  make  Him 

i         hear    who    is    above    the     stars  ?      We 

\*f  Y       need  not   raise  our  voices  to  the  stars: 

for    He    heareth    us    when    we    only 

whisper :    when  we  breathe  out  words 

softly    with    a     low    voice.       He    that 

filleth  the  heavens  is  here  also. 

May  we  that  are  so  young  speak 
to  Him  that  always  was  ?  May  we, 
that  can  hardly  speak  plain,  speak  to 
God? 

We  that  are  so  young  are  but 
lately  made  alive ;  therefore  we  should 
not  forget  His  forming  hand  who  hath 
made  us  alive.  We  that  cannot  speak 
plain,   should    lisp  out  praises   to   Him 

who   teacheth    us    how   to    speak,      ri 
£l  and    hath    opened    our 

dumb   lips. 


VV  /*?> 


«&£Ld* 


(     38     ) 


When  we  could  not  think  of  Him,  He 
thought  of  us  ;  hefore  we  could  ask  Him  to  bless 
us,  He  had  already  given  us  many  blessings. 

He  fashioneth  our  tender  limbs,  and  causeth  them 
to  grow ;   He  maketh  us  strong,  and  tall,  and  nimble. 

Every  day  we  are  more  active  than  the  former 
day,  therefore  every  day  we  ought  to  praise  Him  better 
than  the  former  day. 


(     39 


The  buds  spread  into  leaves, 
and  the  blossoms  swell  to  fruit; 
but  they  know  not  how  they 
grow,  nor  who  caused  them  to  <^ 
spring  up  from  the  bosom  of 
the  earth. 

Ask  them  if  they  will  tell 
thee  ;  bid  them  to  break  forth 
into  singing,  and  fill  the  air 
with  pleasant  sounds. 

They  smell  sweet ;  they  look 
beautiful ;  but  they  are  quite  si- 
lent :  no  sound  is  in  the  still  air ; 
no  murmur  of  voices  amongst 
the  green  leaves. 


(     4° 


r? 


The    plants 

,  and  the  trees 

are    made    to 

give    fruit   to 

man  ;     but    man     is 

made    to    praise    God    who 

made  him. 

We  love  to  praise  Him, 
because  He  loveth  to  bless 
we  thank  Him  for 
life,  because  it  is  a  plea- 
sant thing  to  be  alive. 
We  love  God,  who 
hath  created  all  beings;  we 
love  all  beings,  because  they 
are  the  creatures  of  God. 
We  cannot  be  good,  as  God  is 
good,  to  all  persons  everywhere ; 
^^  but  we  can  rejoice  that 
>J*~-^  everywhere  there  is  a 
^~-^        God  to  do  them  good. 


(     4i      ) 

We  will  think  of  God  when  we  play,  and 
when  we  work  ;  when  we  walk  out,  and  when 
we  come  in  ;  when  we  sleep,  and  when  we 
wake  ;  His  praise  shall  dwell  continually  upon 
our  lips. 


wmA  ■-  ■  -  *:'i!    ') 


(       42        ) 


45 


HYMNYUI. 

a  .  t   8 

See  where  stands  the  cot- 
i  tage  of  the  labourer  co- 
vered with  warm  thatch  ! 
The  mother  is  spinning  at 
the  door;  the  young  chil- 
dren sport  before  her  on 
the  grass;  the  elder  ones 
learn  to  labour,  and  are 
obedient ;  the  father  worketh  to  provide  them  food  : 
either  he  tilleth  the  ground,  or  he  gathereth  in  the  corn, 
or  shaketh  his  ripe  apples  from  the  tree.  His  children 
run  to  meet  him  when  he  cometh  home,  and  his  wife 
prepare th  the  wholesome  meal. 


'^&&m^- 


(     46     ) 

The  father,  the  mother,  and  the  children  make  a 
family ;  the  father  is  the  master  thereof.  If  the  family 
be  numerous,  and  the  grounds  large,  there  are  servants 
to  help  to  do  the  work:  all  these  dwell  in  one  house; 
they   sleep    beneath   the   same   roof;    they  eat   the   same 


bread ;  they  kneel  down  together  and  praise  God  every 
night  and  every  morning  with  one  voice ;  they  are  very 
closely  united,  and  are  dearer  to  each  other  than  any 
strangers.  If  one  is  sick  they  mourn  together;  and 
if  one  is   happy   they  rejoice  together. 


(     47     ) 

Many  houses  are  built  together ;  many  families  live 
near  one  another ;  they  meet  together  on  the  green, 
and  in  pleasant  walks,  and  to  buy  and  sell,  and  in  the 
house  of  justice  :  and  the  sound  of  the  bell  calleth  them 
to  the  house  of  God  in  company.      If  one  is  poor,  his 


neighbour  helpeth  him  ;  if  he  is  sad,  he  comforteth  him. 
This  is  a  village ;  see  where  it  stands  enclosed  in  a  green 
shade,  and  the  tall  spire  peeps  above  the  trees. 

If  there   be   very    many   houses,    it    is   a    town,    it  is 
governed  by  a  magistrate. 


(     4§ 


Many  towns,  and  a  large  extent  of  country,  make 
a  kingdom ;  it  is  enclosed  by  mountains ;  it  is  divided 
by  rivers ;  it  is  washed  by  seas ;  the  inhabitants  thereof 
are   countrymen;    they  speak   the   same   language;    they 

make  war 

and  peace 

j|  together; 

V  a  king  is 

the  ruler 

thereof. 

Many 

kingdoms 

and 

countries 

full  of 

people, 

and 

islands, 

and  large 

continents, 

and 

different 

climates, 

make  up  this  whole  world — God  governeth  it.  The 
people  swarm  upon  the  face  of  it  like  ants  upon  a 
hillock ;    some  are  black  with   the  hot  sun ;    some  cover 


>.■*,<.• 


49 


themselves  with  furs  against  the  sharp  cold  ;  some  drink 
of  the  fruit  of  the  vine ;  some  the  pleasant  milk  of 
the  cocoa-nut,    and  others  quench  their    thirst   with   the 

running  stream. 
All 
are  God's 
family  ; 
He 
B    knoweth 
H  every  one 
|     of  them, 
as   a 
shepherd 
knoweth 
his   flock ; 
they 
pray  to 
Him 
in  different 
languages, 
but  He  understandeth  them  all ; 
He  heareth  them  all;    He  taketh  care  of  all:    none   are 
so    great    that    He    cannot    punish    them ;    none    are    so 
mean  that   He  will  not  protect  them. 


5° 


Negro    woman,    who 


sittest    pining    in     captivity, 
and  weepest  over   thy 
'  sick  child  :   though  no 
one  seeth  thee,  God  seeth 
thee  ;      though     no      one 
pitieth   thee,    God   pitieth 
thee ;   raise  thy  voice,  for- 
lorn and   abandoned  one  ; 
call  upon  Him  from  amidst 
thy    bonds,    for   assuredly 
He  will  hear  thee. 


rf^ 


Monarch,  that  rules t  over  a  hundred 
states  ;  whcse  frown  is  terrible  as  death, 
and  whose  armies  cover  the  land,  boast 
not  thyself  as  though  there  were  none 
above  thee  : — God  is  above  thee  ;  His 
powerful  arm  is  always  over  thee ;  and 
£?  if  thou  doest  ill,  assuredly  He  will 
punish  thee. 

Nations  of  the  earth,  fear  the  Lord ; 
families  of  men,  call  upon  the  name  of 
your  God. 

Is  there  any  one  whom   God   hath 
not  made  ?   let  him  not  worship  Him : 
is   there  any   one   whom   He  hath 
not   blessed  ?    let  him  not 
praise  Him. 


<m 


H    2 


52 


53 


'-.;■ 


Come,  let  us  walk  abroad ; 

let   us  talk  of  the  works  of  God. 

Take     up     a     handful     of     sand  ; 

number  the  grains  of  it ;    tell  them 

b         one    by    one    into    your    lap. 

Try    if    you    can    count    the 

blades   of   grass    in   the   field, 

or    the    leaves    on    the   trees. 

You    cannot    count    them,    they    are    innumerable ; 

much  more  the  things  which  God  has  made. 


54 


The    fir    groweth 
on    the    high  moun- 
tain,   and     the    grey 
willow    bends    above 
the  stream. 


55 


;■-- 


The  thistle  is  armed   with 
sharp  prickles, 

/     the  mallow' 
is 
soft  and  woolly. 


(     .56 


:>/ 


The  daisy 

enamelleth   the   meadows,    and   groweth    beneath    the 

foot  of  the  passenger. 

The  tulip 

asketh    a    rich   soil,   and   the   careful   hand    of 

the  gardener. 


58 


y    The  iris  and  the  reed  spring  up  in  the 

Jjjr    ^   marsh  ;     the    rich    grass    covereth 

^gh     the    meadows  ;     and 


59 


The  water-lilies  grow  beneath 
the  stream  ;  their  broad  leaves 
float  on  the  surface  of  the  water ; 
the  wall-flower  takes  root  in  the 
hard  stone,  and  spreads  its  fra- 
grance  amongst   broken   ruins. 


6o 


Every     leaf 
^h^,  is    of    a    different    form  ; 
every  plant  hath    a  sepa- 
rate inhabitant. 

Look  at  the  thorns  that 
are  white  with  blossoms,  and 
the  flowers  that  cover  the  fields, 
and  the  plants  that  are  trodden 
in  the  green  path.  The  hand 
of  man  hath  not  planted  them ; 
the  sower  hath  not  scattered 
the  seeds  from  his  hand,  nor 
the  gardener  digged  a  place 
for    them  with  his  spade. 


(     6i 


lUra 


iifefe? 


M 


Sfe 


V&    §A 


$ 

:'^; 

^ 


Some  grow  on  steep  rocks,  where 
no  man  can  climb ;  in  shaking  bogs, 
and  deep  forests,  and  desert  islands: 
they  spring  up  everywhere,  and  cover 
the  bosom  of  the  whole  earth. 

Who  causeth  them  to  grow 
everywhere,  and  bloweth  the  seeds 
about  in  winds,  and  mixeth  them 
with  the  mould,  and  watereth 
them  with  soft  rains,  and  cherish- 
eth  them  with  dews  ?  Who  fan- 
neth  them  with  the  pure  breath  of 
heaven  ;  and  giveth  them  colours 
and  smells,  and  spreadeth  out  their 
thin  transparent  leaves  ? 


IP 

Pil 

Mm 

62 


How    doth    the    rose    draw    its    crimson 

from     the     dark     brown     earth,     or 

-     the    lily    its    shining   white  ?      How 

can   a   small    seed    contain   a   plant  ? 

How    doth    every    plant    know    its 

season   to   put  forth  ?      They   are 

marshalled    in    order  :     each    one 

knoweth  his  place,  and  standeth 

up  in  his  own  rank. 


■ST 


(     63 


The    snow-drop    and    the    prim- 
rose   make   haste   to    lift   their   heads 
above  the  ground.     When  the  spring 
cometh,  they   say,    Here   we   are. 
The    carnation    waiteth     for    the 
full    strength   of   the   year ;     and 
the  hardy  laurustinus  cheereth  the 
winter  months. 

Every  plant  produceth  its  like. 
An  ear  of  corn  will  not  grow 
from  an  acorn ;  nor  will  a  grape- 
stone  produce  cherries ;  but  every 
one  springeth  from  its  proper 
seed.  —^r^-^- 


■      .  ^~>^i.~  '•'■■■'  *-r±~*'Z4 "v-o'"'*-'  ~'3^s^'  ■ 


(     64 


>^Sj 


m^ 


art 


Who  preserveth  them  alive  through  the   cold  winter, 
when     the    snow    is    on    the    ground,    and 
the    sharp    frost     bites     on     the 
plain  ?       Who    soweth   a    small 
seed,    and    a     little    warmth     in 
the     bosom    of    the    earth,    and 
causeth  them  to  spring  up 
afresh,    and     sap    to     rise 
through  the  hard  fibres  ? 
The  trees  are  withered, 
naked   and   bare  ;    they  are 
like  dry  bones. 


(     65     ) 


Who    breathed    on    them    with    the    breath    of    spring, 
and   they  are   covered   with   verdure,   and   green   leaves 
_^^    ^    sprout  from  the  dead  wood  ? 

Lo,  these  are  a  part  of  His  works; 

and  a  little  portion  of  His  wonders. 

There     is    little    need    that    I 

should     tell    you    of    God,    for 

everything  speaks  of  Him. 

Every   field    is    like    an    open 
book ;  every  painted  flower  hath 
a  lesson  written  on  its  leaves. 
Every  murmuring   brook   hath 
voice   is  in  every 


whispering  wind. 


(     66     ) 

They  all  speak  of  Him  who  made  them ;  they  all 
tell  us,  He  is  very  good. 

We  cannot  see  God,  for  He  is  invisible ;  but  we 
can  see  His  works,  and  worship  His  footsteps  in  the 
green  sod.  They  that  know  the  most  will  praise  God 
the  best  ;  but  which  of  us  can  number  half  His 
works  ? 


69     ) 


I 

Look  at  that  spreading  oak, 
the  pride  of  the  village  green  : 
its  trunk  is  massy,  its  branches 
are  strong.  Its  roots,  like 
crooked  fangs,  strike  deep  into 
the  soil,  and  support  its  huge 
bulk.  The  birds  build  among 
the  boughs  :  the  cattle  repose 
beneath  its  shade  :  the  neigh- 
bours form  groups  beneath  the 
shelter  of  its  green  canopy.  The 
old  men  point  it  out  to  their 
children,  but  they  themselves 
remember  not  its  growth :  gene- 
rations of  men  one  after  an- 
other have  been  born  and  died, 
and  this  son  of  the  forest  has 
a.  remained  the  same,  defying  the 
storms  of  two  hundred  winters. 


( 


Yet  this  large  tree  was  once  a  little  acorn  ;  small 
in  size,  insignificant  in  appearance ;  such  as  you  are 
now  picking  up  upon  the  grass  beneath  it.  Such  an 
acorn,  whose  cup  can  only  contain  a  drop  or  two  of 
dew,  contained  the  whole  oak.  All  its  massy  trunk, 
all  its  knotted  branches,  all  its  multitude  of  leaves,  were 
in  that  acorn  ;  it  grew,  it  spread,  it  unfolded  itself  by 
degrees,  it  received  nourishment  from  the  rain,  and  the 
dews,   and   the   well-adapted  soil,  but    it  was    all    there. 

Rain  and  dews,   and  soil, 
X    could  not  raise  an  oak 
without     the 


acorn 


71 


nor  could   they   make   the   acorn   any- 
thing but  an  oak. 

The  mind  of  a  child  is  like  the 
acorn  ;  its  powers  are  folded  up,  they 
do  not  yet  appear,  but  they  are  all 
there.  The  memory,  the  judgment, 
the  invention,  the  feeling  of  right  and 
wrong,  are  all  in  the  mind  of  a  child ; 
of  a  little  infant  just  born  ;  but  they 
are  not  expanded,  you  cannot  perceive 
them. 

Think  of  the  wisest  man  you  ever  ^ 
knew  or  heard  of;  think  of  the  greatest 
man  ;  think  of  the  most  learned  man, 
who  speaks  a  number  of  languages 
and  can  find  out  hidden  things  ;  think 
of  a   man   who   stands   like   that  tree, 


-j^ 


»2  ; 


(     7*     ) 

sheltering  and  protecting  a  number  of  his  fellow  men, 
and  then  say  to  yourself,  the  mind  of  that  man  was 
once  like  mine,  his  thoughts  were  childish  like  my 
thoughts,  nay,  he  was  like  the  babe  just  born,  which 
knows  nothing,  remembers  nothing,  which  cannot  dis- 
tinguish good  from  evil,  nor  truth  from  falsehood. 


If  you  had  only  seen  an  acorn,  you  could  never 
guess  at  the  form  and  size  of  an  oak ;  if  you  had 
never  conversed  with  a  wise  man,  you  could  form  no 
idea  of  him  from   the   mute   and   helpless  infant. 

Instruction  is  the  food  of  the  mind  ;  it  is  like  the 
dew  and  the  rain  and  the  rich  soil. 


(     73     ) 


V 


9 


As  the  soil  and  the  rain  and  the 
dew  cause  the  tree  to  swell  and  put 
forth  its  tender  shoots,  so  do  books 
and  study  and  discourse  feed  the 
mind,  and  make  it  unfold  its  hidden 
powers. 

Reverence  therefore  your  own 
mind  ;  receive  the  nurture  of  instruc- 
tion, that  the  man  within  you  may 
grow  and  flourish.  You  cannot  guess 
how  excellent  he  may  become. 

It  was  long  before  this  oak  showed 
its  greatness ;  year  after  year  passed 
away,  and  it  had  only  shot  a  little 
way  above  the  ground,  a  child  might 
have  plucked  it  up  with  his  little 
hands ;     it   was    long    before    any    one 

called    it    a    tree ;    it    is    long 
before  the  child  becomes 


eSC 


'~7- 


* 


a  man. 


^ 


74 


The  acorn  might  have 
perished  in  the  ground, 
the   young   tree   might  < 
have  been  shorn  of  its 
graceful     boughs,     the 
twig  might  have  bent, 
and  the  tree  would  have  been 
crooked,  but  if  it  grew  at  all, 
it    could    have    been    nothing 
but  an  oak,  it  would  not  have 
been   grass   or  flowers,  which 
live     their    season    and     then 
perish   from    the    face    of   the 
earth. 

The  child  may  be  a  foolish 
man,  he  may  be  a  wicked 
man,  but  he  must  be  a  man  ; 
his  nature  is  not  that  of  any 
inferior  creature,  his  soul  is 
not  akin  to  the  beasts  that 
perish. 


Xr^-^5^ 


(     75 


O  cherish  then  this  precious  mind,  feed  it 
with  truth,  nourish  it  with  knowledge ;  it  comes 
from  God,  it  is  made  in  His  image  :  the  oak 
will  last  for  centuries,  but  the  mind  of  man 
is  made  for  immortality. 

Respect  in  the  infant  the  future  man. 
Destroy  not  in  man  the  rudiments  of  an 
angel. 


v« 


76 


77     ) 


The    golden    orb    of    the    sun    is 
sunk  behind  the  hills,  the  colours 
fade  away  from  the  western   sky, 
and  the  shades  of  evening  fall  fast  around  me. 

Deeper  and  deeper  they  stretch  over  the  plain ; 
I  look  at  the  grass,  it  is  no  longer  green  ;  the 
flowers  are  no  more  tinted  with  various  hues ;  the 
houses,  the  trees,  the  cattle,  are  all  lost  in  the  dis- 
tance.     The   dark   curtain   of   night   is   let    down   over 


(     7»     ) 

the    works    of    God  ;     they    are    blotted    out    from    the 
view   as   if  they  were   no   longer   there. 

Child  of  little  observation,  canst  thou  see  nothing 
because  thou  canst  not  see  grass  and  flowers,  trees  and 
cattle  ?       Lift   up    thine   eyes   from    the    ground    shaded 


with  darkness,  to  the  heavens  that  are  stretched  over  thy 
head  ;  see  how  the  stars  one  by  one  appear  and  light 
up  the  vast  concave.  There  is  the  moon  bending  her 
bright  horns  like  a  silver  bow,  and  shedding  her  mild 
light,  like  liquid  silver,  over  the  blue  firmament.  There 
is    Venus,    the    evening    and    morning    star  ;     and    the 


(     79     ) 

Pleiades,   and    the    Bear    that    never    sets,    and   the   Pole 
star  that  guides  the  mariner  over  the  deep. 

Now  the  mantle  of  darkness  is  over  the  earth  ;  the 
last  little  gleam  of  twilight  is  faded  away  ;  the  lights  are 
extinguished  in  the  cottage  windows,  but  the  firmament 


burns  with  innumerable  fires  ;  every  little  star  twinkles 
in  its  place.  If  you  begin  to  count  them  they  are  more 
than  you  can  number  ;  they  are  like  the  sands  on  the 
sea  shore.  The  telescope  shows  you  far  more,  and 
there  are  thousands  and  ten  thousands  of  stars  which 
no  telescope  has  ever  reached. 


Now  Orion  heaves  his  bright  shoulder  above  the 
horizon,  and  Sirius,  the  Dog-star,  follows  him  the 
brightest  of  the  train. 

Look  at  the  milky  way,  it  is  a  field  of  brightness  ; 
its  pale  light  is  composed  of  myriads  of  burning  suns. 

All  these  are  God's  families.  He  gave  the  sun  to 
shine  with  a  ray  of  His  own  glory  ;  He  marks  the  path 
of  the  planets,  He  guides  their  wanderings  through  the 
sky,  and  traces  out  their  orbit  with  the  finger  of  His 
power. 

If  you  were  to  travel  as  swift  as  an  arrow  from  a 
bow,  and  to  travel  on  further  and  further  still  for  millions 
of  years,  you  would  not  be  out  of  the  creation  of  God. 


New  suns  in  the  depth  of  space  would  still  be  burning  round 
you,  and  other  planets  fulfilling  their  appointed  course. 

Lift  up  thine  eyes,  child  of  earth,  for  God  has  given 
thee  a  glimpse  of  heaven.  The  light  of  one  sun  is  with- 
drawn that  thou  mayest  see  ten  thousand.  Darkness 
is  spread  over  the  earth  that  thou  mayest  behold,  at 
a  distance,  the  regions  of  eternal  day. 

This  earth  has  a  variety  of  inhabitants  ;  the  sea,  the 
air,  the  surface  of  the  ground,  swarm  with  creatures 
of  different  natures,  sizes,  and  powers  ;  to  know  a  very 
little  of  them  is  to  be  wise  among  the  sons  of  men. 
What  then,  thinkest  thou,  are  the  various  forms  and 
natures  and  senses  and  occupations  of  the  peopled  uni- 
verse ? 


(       82       ) 

Who  can  tell  the  birth  and  generations  of  so  many 
worlds  ?  who  can  relate  their  histories  ?  who  can  de- 
scribe  their  inhabitants  ? 

Canst  thou  measure  infinity  with  a  line  ?  canst 
thou  grasp  the  circle  of  infinite  space. 

Yet  all  these  depend  upon  God,  they  hang  upon 
Him  as  a  child  upon  the  breast  of  its  mother ;  He 
tempereth  the  heat  to  the  inhabitant  of  Mercury  ;  He 
provideth  resources  against  the  cold  in  the  frozen  orb 
of  Saturn.  Doubt  not  that  He  provideth  for  all  beings 
that  He  has  made. 

Look  at  the  moon  when  it  walketh  in  brightness ; 
gaze  at  the  stars  when  they  are  marshalled  in  the 
firmament,  and  adore  the  Maker  of  so  many  worlds. 


85     ) 


I 


,y 


T    is    now    Winter,    dead 
Winter.       Desolation     and 
silence     reign     in     the     fields, 
no    singing    of  birds   is  heard, 
no   humming  of  insects.      The 
streams     murmur     no     longer  ; 
they  are  locked  up  in  frost. 
The    trees   lift   their  naked 
boughs    like    withered     arms 
into  the  bleak  sky,  the  green 
sap   no  longer    rises   in   their 
veins  ;    the    flowers    and    the 
sweet-smelling  shrubs  are  de- 
cayed to  their  roots. 

The  sun  himself  looks  cold 
and  cheerless  ;  he  gives  light 
only  enough  to  show 
the  universal 
desolation. 


(     86 


Nature,  child  of  God,  mourns 
for  her  children.  A  little  while 
ago  and  she  rejoiced  in  her  off- 
spring :  the  rose  spread  its  per- 
fume upon  the  gale  ;  the  vine 
gave  its  fruit ;  her  children  were 
springing  and  blooming  around 
her,  on  every  lawn  and  every 
green  bank. 

O  Nature,  beautiful  Nature, 
beloved  child  of  God,  why  dost 
thou  sit  mourning  and  desolate  ? 
Has  thy  Father  forsaken  thee  ? 
has  He  left  thee  to  perish?  Art 
thou  no  longer  the  object  of  His 
care  ?       . 

He  has  not  forsaken  thee,  O 
Nature  ?  thou  art  His  beloved 
child,  the  eternal  image  of  His 
perfections  :  His  own  beauty  is 
spread  over  thee,  the  light  of 
His  countenance  is  shed  upon 
thee. 


(     §7     ) 

Thy  children  shall  live  again,  they  shall  spring  up 
and  bloom  around  thee ;  the  rose  shall  again  breathe 
its  sweetness  on  the  soft  air,  and  from  the  bosom  of 
the  ground  verdure  shall  spring  forth. 

And  dost  thou  not  mourn,  O  Nature,  for  thy  human 
births;  for  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters  that  sleep  under 
the  sod  ;  and  shall  not  they  also  revive  ?  Shall  the 
rose  and  the  myrtle  bloom  anew,  and  shall  man  perish  ? 
Shall  goodness  sleep  in  the  ground,  and  the .  light  of 
wisdom  be  quenched  in  the  dust,  and  shall  tears  be 
shed  over  them  in  vain  ? 

They  also  shall  live ;  their  winter  shall  pass  away ; 
they  shall  bloom  again.  The  tears  of  thy  children  shall 
be  dried  up  when  the  eternal  year  proceeds.  O  come 
that  eternal  year ! 


(     8S     ) 


•11/' 


^  W/ 


-7^-^     "'>." 





89 


m 


Child  of  mortality,  whence  comest 
thou  ?   why  is  thy  countenance  sad, 
and  why   are  thine  eyes  red 
with  weeping  ? 

I  have  seen  the  rose  in  its 
beauty;  it  spread  its  leaves 
to    the    morning    sun — I 
returned,     it     was     dying  * 
upon  its  stalk ;    the  grace 
of    the    form    of    it    was 
gone ;     its   loveliness   was   va- 
:^    nished    away ;    the    leaves 
thereof  were  scattered    on 
the  ground,  and 
'  |g\  no  one  gathered 


(     9°     ) 


A  stately  tree  grew  on  the  plain ; 
its  branches  were  covered  with  verdure ; 
its  boughs  spread  wide  and  made  a 
goodly  shadow ;  the  trunk  was  like 
a  strong  pillar  ;  the  roots  were 
like  crooked  fangs — I  returned,  Jti? 
the  verdure  was  nipped  by  the  east 
wind  ;  the  branches  were  lopped 
away  by  the  axe ;  the  worm  had 
made  its  way  into  the  trunk,  and 
the  heart  thereof  was  decayed  ; 
it  mouldered  away, 
and  fell  to  the 
ground. 


(     9i 


I   have   seen    insects   sporting   in   the 

sunshine,  and  darting  along  the  streams; 

their    wings    glittered    with     gold     and 

purple ;  their  bodies  shone  like  the 

yK   green    emerald  :     they    were    more 

numerous  than  I  could  count;  their 

k   motions  were  quicker  than  my  eye 

could    glance — I  returned,   they 

were    brushed     into    the    pool  ; 

they    were    perishing    with    the 

evening  breeze ;  the  swallow  had 

devoured  them ;  the  pike  had 

seized  them;  there    were 

none  found  of  so  great 


~^\ 


92 


I  have  seen  a  man  in  the  pride  of  his  strength ; 
his  cheeks  glowed  with  beauty;  his  limbs  were  full 
of  activity  ;  he  leaped ;  he  walked  ;  he  ran ;  he 
rejoiced  in  that  he  was  more  excellent  than  those — 
I  returned,  he  lay  stiff  and  cold  on  the  bare  ground ; 
his  feet  could  no  longer  move,  nor  his  hands  stretch 
themselves  out ;  his  life  was  departed  from  him ;  and 
therefore  do  I  weep  because  Death  is  in  the  world ; 
the  spoiler  is  among  the  works  of  God :  all  that  is 
made  must  be  destroyed ;  all  that  is  born  must  die : 
let  me  alone,  for  I  will  weep  yet  longer. 


(     93     ) 


94     ) 


I    have    seen    the 
sun   set    in    the    west,    and    the 
shades  of  night  shut  in  the  wide 
horizon ;    there   was   no   colour, 
nor  shape,  nor  beauty,  nor  mu- 
sic; gloom  and  darkness  brooded 
around — I  looked,  the  sun  broke 
forth  again  from  the  east,  he 
gilded    the    mountain     tops ; 
the    lark    rose    to    meet    him 
from  her  low  nest,  and   the 
shades  of  darkness  fled  away. 


95 


I  have  seen  the  insect,  being  come 
to   its   full    size,  languish  and 


refuse  to  eat  :  it  spun  itself 
a  tomb,  and  was  shrouded  in  the  silken 
cone ;  it  lay  without  feet,  or  shape,  or 
power  to  move.  I  looked  again,  it  had 
burst  its  tomb :  it  was  full  of  life,  and 
sailed  on  coloured  wings  through  the  soft 
air ;    it  rejoiced  in  its  new  being. 

Thus  shall   it   be  with   thee,  O  man  ! 
and  so  shall  thy  life  be  renewed. 

Beauty  shall   spring  up  out  of  ashes ; 
and  life  out  of  the  dust. 

A    little   while    thou    shalt    lie   in    the 

ground,    as   the    seed    lieth    in    the   bosom 

of   the    earth ;    but    thou    shalt   be    raised 

again ;     and    if    thou    art    good    thou 

shalt  never  die  any  more. 

Who  is   He   that   cometh  to   burst 

open   the   prison   doors    of   the 

tomb,      to     bid     the      dead 

awake,  and  to  gather  His 

\  redeemed    from   the 

four    winds     of 

heaven  ? 


96 


He  descendeth  on  a  fiery  cloud ;  the  sound  of  a 
trumpet  goeth  before  Him  ;  thousands  of  angels  are 
on  His  right  hand 

It  is  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God ;  the  Saviour  of  men ; 
the  friend  of  the  good. 

He  cometh  in  the  glory  of  His  Father  ;  He  hath 
received  power  from  on  high. 

Mourn  not,  therefore,  child  of  mortality ; — for  the 
spoiler,  the  cruel  spoiler,  that  laid  waste  the  works  of 
God  is  subdued ;  Jesus  hath  conquered  death :  child 
of  immortality !    mourn  no  longer. 


mm  xy. 


The  y  rose 
is  sweet,  but  it  is  sur- 
^§fr^ rounded    with   thorns;    the    lily 
f9  of   the    valley    is    fragrant,    but    it 
springeth  up  amongst  the  brambles. 
£^v  The  spring  is  pleasant,  but  it  is  soon 
I  past :  the  summer  is  bright,  but  the 
winter  destroyeth  the  beauty 
%  thereof 


*2*JfrZZ 


)--    ■  ?z~; 


The  rainbow  is  very  glorious, 
but  it  soon  vanisheth  away :    life  is  good,  but  it 
quickly  swallowed  up  in  death. 


is 


98 


There  is  a  land  where  the 
roses  are  without  thorns,  where 
the  flowers  are  not  mixed  with 
brambles. 

In  that  land  there  is  eternal 
spring,  and  light  without  any 
cloud. 

The  tree  of  life  groweth  in 
the  midst  thereof  ;  rivers  of 
pleasures  are  there,  and  flowers 
that  never  fade. 

Myriads  of  happy  spirits  are 
there,  and  surround  the  throne 
of  God  with  a  perpetual  hymn. 

The  angels  with  their  golden 
harps  sing  praises  continually, 
and  the  cherubim  fly  on  wings 
of  fire. 

This  country  is  Heaven  :  it 
is  the  country  of  those  that 
are  good ;  and  nothing  that  is 
wicked  must  enter  there. 


(     99 


The    toad 
must     not     spit     its     venom 

amongst   turtle   doves  ;    nor   the    poisonous    hen- 
bane grow  amongst  sweet  flowers.     Neither  must  any 
one  that  doeth  ill  enter  into  that  good  land. 

This   earth   is   pleasant,  for   it    is    God's    earth,    and 
it  is  filled  with  many  delightful  things. 

But  that  country  is  far  better;  there  we  shall  not 
grieve  any  more,  nor  be  sick  any  more,  nor  do  wrong 
any  more;  there  the  cold  of  winter  shall  not  wither 
us,  nor  the  heats  of  summer  scorch  us. 

In  that  country  there  are  no  wars  nor  quarrels, 
but  all   love  one  another  with  dear  love. 

When   our    parents    and    friends   die,    and 

^         are  laid  in  the  cold  ground,  we  see 

them    here    no    more ; 

but    there  we  shall 

embrace     them 

again,  and  live 

with  them  and 

be  separated  no 

more. 


IOO 


There  we  shall  meet  all  good  men,  whom  we  read 
of  in  holy  books.  There  we  shall  see  Abraham,  the 
called  of  God,  the  father  of  the  faithful ;  and  Moses, 
after  his  long  wanderings  in  the  Arabian  desert ;  and 
Elijah,  the  prophet  of  God ;  and  Daniel,  who  escaped 
from  the  lions'  den ;  and  there  the  son  of  Jesse,  the 
shepherd  king,  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel.  They  loved 
God  on  earth ;  they  praised  Him  on  earth  ;  but  in  that 
country  they  will  praise  Him  better  and  love  Him  more. 

There  we  shall  see  Jesus,  who  is  gone  before  us 
to  that  happy  place ;  and  there  we  shall  behold  the 
glory  of  the  High  God.  We  cannot  see  Him  here, 
but  we  will  love  Him  here ;  we  must  be  now  on  earth, 
but  we  will  often  think  on  Heaven. 

That  happy  land  is  our  home ;  we  are  to  be  here 
but  for  a  little  while,  and  there  for  ever,  even  for  ages 
of  eternal  years. 


LONDON:    1MUNTED   BY    W.   CLOWES   AND   SONS,   STAMFOKD   STREET,   AND  CHARING    CROSS. 


lid 


v.  m   v.  x.v. 

7.  tv.  m,  yi 


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